The debate over the NHL requiring mandatory visors has been around for some time. But it was reignited last night after Marc Staal was hit with a deflected puck in the eye.

The incident occurred in the Rangers' 4-2 win over the Flyers, as Staal fell to the ice writhing in pain after a Kimmo Timonen slapshot went off Jakub Voracek's stick and into the defenseman's face in the third period. He skated off moments later holding a towel over his eye.

The horrifying play reminded everyone that NHL players aren't required to wear visors even though they are mandatory in the AHL and elsewhere. Eye injuries like those suffered by ex-Rangers Bryan Berard (while he was a member of the Maple Leafs in 2000) and Manny Malhotra (with the Canucks) haven't been enough to change the rules.

"This certainly would be a good argument for making visors mandatory," Rangers center Brian Boyle told The Post's Larry Brooks after last night's game, "and I'm not saying I can come up with a good argument against it except that there are a lot of guys who just aren't comfortable wearing them. I don't know..."

Rick Nash told Brooks he thinks visors should be optional and up to the players to decide if they want one. As the New York Times' Jeff Klein noted, "visor use among NHL players has roughly doubled since the 2004-05 lockout."

Head down to the comments section and tell us which side you agree with. Is it time for the league to step in and make visors a requirement? Or, if there are many players like Nash who want the option due to comfort, should they have the freedom to decide even while these injuries continue to happen?